Elliott Caine Quintet - Los Angeles

Highland Park feels particularly alive at night, when young arrivals gather at places like the York (5018 York Boulevard; 323-255-9675; www.theyorkonyork.com), a stylish gastropub with brick walls and chalkboard menus. On weekends, the L-shaped bar is often five deep with floppy-haired students from Occidental College nearby, local women in short skirts and high heels and artist types from Silver Lake with shaggy beards and trucker hats.